Dave Bakke: Search for adoptees includes central Illinois

When they were kids in the late 1950s, seven brothers and sisters were given out for adoption. One of them was Glenn Reynolds, who lives just south of Vandalia in the town of Vernon. Glenn and his wife, Sharon, have been successful in finding all but two of his siblings. The two they cannot find have central Illinois connections.

When they were kids in the late 1950s, seven brothers and sisters were given out for adoption. One of them was Glenn Reynolds, who lives just south of Vandalia in the town of Vernon. Glenn and his wife, Sharon, have been successful in finding all but two of his siblings. The two they cannot find have central Illinois connections.

So, where are you Henry Joe Chambers and your sister, Violet Ann? (Her last name is unknown, though it was Chambers at one time).

Jim Chambers Sr. was in the Air Force and away from home almost all the time. His wife, Geraldine, could not raise their kids on her own, and that is why she put them up for adoption. They were all born in Springfield, but their next stop was the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors School in Normal. From there, they were scattered to foster families and adoption.

A few years ago, Glenn and Sharon began tracking down those siblings, most of whom are in their 60s now.

“We want to get the kids back together,” says Sharon. “Their parents are deceased. It’s been 50-some years since they’ve seen each other. We just want them to be a family again.”

Jim Chambers Jr., 70, was thrilled when Glenn and Sharon found him in Colorado two years ago. An adoption agency sent a tentative email to him, asking if he even wanted to be found. He said yes, absolutely yes.

“It took them two years to finally track me down,” he says. “I was 9 years old when we all went into the system. I was about 68 when they contacted me. I went out and visited them (Glenn and Sharon) that same year. It was a very pleasant visit. I’m going back this year because we just found my sister, Mary Lou.”

Mary Lou was located a few weeks ago. Sharon Reynolds says the key was a lucky call she made to the public library in Pittsfield. She had gotten information from DCFS that Mary Lou’s foster parents were from Pittsfield. She called the library there to see if Mary Lou is listed in a school yearbook. A helpful library employee who had become interested in the story found an obituary that listed Mary Lou as a survivor. It also gave the name of the town she lives in. From there, says Sharon, it didn’t take long.

But Henry and Violet Ann have yet to be found.

Henry, says the family, usually went by his middle name of “Joe” or even “H.J. Chambers.” He was born on Nov. 17, 1948, which would make him 64 years old. As a teen, Sharon says, he was placed with a foster family in Witt. From what she has learned, she believes he ran away with a girl when he was 14 and hasn’t been heard from since.

Jim said he was placed with his brother, Henry Joe, whom he called “Joey” in Witt. They were with same foster family for two or three years. Jim was adopted first, then heard later that his brother had run away.

Violet Ann, the youngest of the siblings, would be 59 years old. Sharon and Glenn traced her to Coffeen, where her foster family lived. Sharon called people in Coffeen, including a 91-year-old steeped in town history, to ask about Violet Ann or the family, but none of them remembered the foster family or the girl.

Sharon said it would be OK if people who have information on Henry Joe or Violet Ann to call her or Glenn. Their phone number in Vernon is (618) 432-7215.

“I was going to do this (look for his brothers and sisters) four years ago,” Jim said from Colorado. “I thought about it very hard. But my conscience said it’s been this long, I didn’t know if they would accept it or not so I didn’t do anything.

“Then Glenn got ahold of me and we decided it’s time to find the others.

“Joey, he’s one of the lost ones. We really would like to find him.”

I will let you know if they find him, or Violet Ann.

Know of something quirky? Emotional? Funny? Inspiring? Dave Bakke is your man and his deadline is always near. Pitch your idea to him at dave.bakke@sj-r.com or at (217)788-1541. His column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. To read more, visit www.sj-r.com/bakke.